When Barack Obama is leading the tributes, it is impossible not to realise the scale of success. Allisen Corpuz prevailed over Charley Hull at the US Women’s Open at Pebble Beach on Sunday and Obama was immediate in his praise towards his fellow Hawaiian. “You make us all proud,” said the 44th president of the United States on social media. “He has done a lot in his career,” Corpuz responded with more than a hint of understatement. “That is really special.”
The nature of Corpuz’s triumph was similarly striking. The 25-year-old had been trending in the right direction in majors – she was tied fourth at the Chevron Championship and shared 15th at the PGA championship – but missed three cuts in four previous US Open appearances. Corpuz had never won a mainstream tour event before; the weight of expectation at Pebble Beach played a part in her deliberate approach and she was warned she could be penalised for slow play during round four.
“I’ve always had a pretty calm demeanour,” she said. “Not so much on the inside, but projecting that outwardly. I’ve always been pretty calm. I was really telling myself I belong out here, I’m good enough to compete. That’s just been what I’ve been telling myself for the past two years.
“Getting my tour card, that was just kind of the beginning of the journey and you never really know what’s going to happen after that. I have just really been working really hard the last few years but I have a lot of gratitude just to be out here. Every few holes I looked out and said, ‘I’m out here at Pebble Beach.’ There’s not many places that are better.”
Hull emerged as the key threat on the final day in California but Corpuz won by three, at nine under par, after a closing 69. Her highest 18-hole score at the famous venue was 71.
“This was something I had dreamed of, but at the same time kind of just never really expected it to happen,” Corpuz said. “Especially just knowing the history. Tiger Woods absolutely annihilated this place [in 2000]. Yeah, it’s really special.”
Corpuz had also took regular motivation from Michelle Wie, whom as a school pupil she watched win the US Open in 2014. Wie bid farewell to professional golf, aged 33, at Pebble Beach on Friday. “I never really compared myself to her,” Corpuz said. “I’ve always wanted to make my own name. She has just served as a really big inspiration.”
Wie, who also hails from Hawaii, was supposedly destined to add to that major win of nine years ago but never did.
Corpuz has moved to third in the US Solheim Cup standings and it now seems inevitable she will make her debut in the clash with Europe in September. Hull, meanwhile, was understandably bullish after her highest major finish since 2016. The Englishwomen closed with a terrific 66, which included a front nine of just 32.
Hull’s freewheeling approach was noticeable. “I’m quite an aggressive person when it comes to life,” she said. “I’m quite fast and I just feel like I’m quite aggressive on the course. I like to go for pins. At the end of the day it’s just a game and might as well make it fun. If I want something, I’ll go and get it. That’s my mentality.
“I was the one chasing it down so it was quite fun. I enjoy chasing someone because you have got to make birdies and make a move up that leaderboard. That was pretty much my mindset.”
Hull’s consolation was a cheque for almost $970,000 (£756,000). Corpuz’s win earned her $2m, which supplied further proof of the increased commitment to women’s golf by the United States Golf Association.
